Sharjah24 – AFP: Securing an agreement to preserve free movement across Gibraltar's border with Spain after Brexit comes into effect is "not easy" but is still within reach, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has said.

Although Britain and its overseas territories like Gibraltar, a tiny enclave at the southernmost tip of Spain, formally left the European Union on January 31, the transition period to allow both sides to carve out a new relationship ends on December 31.

Parallel talks between Madrid, London and Gibraltar are under way to ensure the flow of cross-border workers and goods between the enclave and Spain after Britain leaves the EU's single market at the year's end.

"We are all working extraordinarily hard to secure an agreement. That does not mean that an agreement is easy. But it still remains that which we wish to see happen," Picardo said in an interview on Wednesday.

Gibraltar imports all of its food and about 15,000 people cross the border from Spain every day to work, accounting for half of the territory's workforce.

Without a deal in place, Spain-Gibraltar trade would be subjected to tariffs from January 1, slowing the flow of people and goods and causing economic pain on both sides of the border.

"We are working very closely with suppliers outside of Gibraltar to ensure that, if it were necessary, we are able to secure foodstuffs and all materials that we need in order to operate our economy without having associated economic collapse," Picardo said.